Thousands of wreaths arrive at DFW National Cemetery to honor veterans

A veteran dies twice, according to Plano resident Larry Allen.

“The first time when they quit breathing, and the second time when we stop saying their name,” Allen said.

Because of that, Allen, a Vietnam-era veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, wants to make sure every veteran buried at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery is honored and their name is said out loud. That will happen Saturday during a ceremony honoring veterans as their grave is adorned with a wreath on National Wreaths Across America Day.

Allen said for each wreath placed, the volunteer kneels at the grave and says the soldier’s name, then “Thank you for your service, for protecting our constitution and defending our country from enemies both foreign and domestic” followed by saying “thank you” again and their name.

“This is a time of reverence, we are honoring their service to our country,” Allen said.

Allen’s group, Wreaths Across America – North Texas Wreaths of Honor, is one of more than 100 groups who will be at the cemetery Friday to prepare for Saturday’s wreath-laying ceremony. More than 5,000 volunteers are expected to help stage wreaths for more than 51,000 graves.

Getting to the big day is a year-round process. Allen is already raising funds for next year’s wreaths.

Allen started volunteering for this effort in May 2019. In December 2018 he received a card in the mail that thanked him for his service and said a wreath was purchased in his honor and would be placed on a grave at D-FW National Cemetery.

The wreath was purchased from a family friend. Because of that, Allen decided to get involved and after researching, started the 501(c)3 and got busy. He even retired from his consulting job in September to put full-time effort into fundraising.

Wreaths are $15. That first year, his group raised enough money for 484 wreaths. In 2020, they raised enough for 1,430. Last year the group placed 5,050 wreaths on gravesites and this year they will place 4,400

Allen spends time speaking to Rotary groups and social clubs, sharing the importance of honoring those who served and raising money for the wreaths. This year he spoke to 30 groups.

Pouring his heart into the organization helps channel the pain he still feels from an old wound.

On Dec. 2, 1969, while aboard a ship to Vietnam, an amphibious tractor known as an “amtrac” broke loose during a storm. Allen and his comrade Pfc. Don Greiger almost had the amtrac tied down when tragedy struck.

“Don said, ‘Get in the tractor,’” Allen recalled. “He was behind me by 10 seconds.”

Before Greiger could get in, the tractor broke loose and crushed him. He was 22.

Allen said the ship bound for Vietnam turned to the Philippines to unload his body.

“We didn’t get re-deployed,” he said.

Grieger is buried in Milwaukee, Wisc.

Allen said his cousin who lives nearby places a wreath on Greiger’s tombstone each year on National Wreaths Across America Day.

Personal reasons also keep Mary Bush and her husband Chris busy with the wreath effort. They are the coordinators for the overall project at the cemetery.

The couple started the effort to honor soldiers buried at the cemetery after their son Army Cpl. Peter J. Courcy, 22, of Frisco, was killed in Afghanistan Feb. 10, 2009.

“When he was killed, we were looking for ways to honor him,” Mary Bush said. “This is very therapeutic.”

She said at the time, there were no organized groups raising money for wreaths at D-FW National Cemetery so she and her husband decided to lead the efforts.

The first year, they placed 250 wreaths at headstones with the help pf 20 to 30 friends and family members.

“After we laid those wreaths, we looked up and saw all of the others not getting wreaths,” she said.

Their efforts have paid off. For three out of the past four years every veteran laid to rest has gotten a wreath. In 2020, 90% received one.

“Every veteran at that cemetery deserves to be remembered,” she said. “Every stone has a name, but every name has a story.”